Bowditch leads at halfway mark

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Australia’s Steven Bowditch leads the Valero Texas Open at the halfway stage after an impressive second-round 67.

Bowditch moved to eight-under-par at the TPC San Antonio where he carded can eagle and five birdies on Friday.

It could have been an even better day for the Aussie, but he spoiled his round on his final hole with a double bogey six on the ninth.

“It’s a 72-hole tournament and I just did it on the 36th hole, made a double-bogey,” Bowditch said on the PGA Tour website. “It’s going to happen out here.”

Bowditch admitted his game on the greens has been giving him problems recently and that he has relied on his approach shots to bail him out.

“I’m not making many putts at the moment, so most of my birdies have been sort of coming inside of six or five feet,” Bowditch added.

“I’ve hit a lot of good wedge shots. I made a couple good par saves on my back nine this afternoon, but all in all it’s been more of hitting my approach shots pretty close.”

Meanwhile world number five Phil Mickelson’s second-round 70 ensured he survived the cut. The American made four birdies and two bogeys.

At the front, Chad Collins sits in a tie for second after an impressive 66 moved him up the field and he sits alongside first-round leader Andrew Loupe on seven-under-par.

Cameron Beckman is two shots back after following a bogey just before the turn with three birdies on the back nine, with Pat Perez also joint fourth.

England’s Brian Davis is now seven shots off the pace after a level par 72 second round, which included four birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey on the third.

Defending champion Martin Laird followed up a level-par 72 with 77 on Friday to miss the cut by two shots, while Ireland’s Padraig Harrington also made an early exit after finishing on five over par overall.

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